Thomas Hardy’s ‘Far From the Madding Crowd’ was written in the Victorian period therefore was directed to a Victorian audience. At the time at which the novel was written society followed strict moral conventions and Hardy has promoted them in his novel. The main focus of his novel, Bathsheba Everdene begins as a fairly subdued character however develops into a much more complex character in ways in which her job, social status and love life change.
A modern audience would see women as equals however the Victorian audience expects the women to be a second class citizen not capable of doing or gaining things for themselves. A typical Victorian novel follows the same pattern of love of when the female, in this case Bathsheba, makes two mistakes and finds the right man on the third attempt. Hardy follows this pattern in his novel and incorporates twists and turns until Bathsheba is satisfied.
I imagine Hardy followed the typical order of events where the female makes mistakes to promote the idea that to have a successful relationship you must have made mistakes in the past. What people used to seek then in a successful relationship people still seek the same qualities today. Throughout my essay I will discuss how Bathsheba gained a successful relationship and what Hardy perceived of what constitutes to gaining a successful relationship. William Boldwood probably the least successful relationship with Bathsheba.
He is most probably the least appealing to Bathsheba because he is such a dignified and serious character at first. Boldwood however does gain my sympathy due to the fact he is an essentially thoughtful and intensely sensitive man; he also is very nai?? ve with women and relationships because he has never experienced true love or any form of a serious relationship and has lived a celibate life. They never shared an intimate moment nor did they ever have a relationship where the outcome may have been marriage.
When they first contact each other on a romantic stance it was a mere, however very significant practical joke that Bathsheba sent to Boldwood. She sent him a valentine’s card asking Boldwood to marry her; Boldwood did not see the funny side of her ‘joke’ and believed it to be true. He probably thought it to be true because it was very unjust for a woman to propose to a man and considered a great risk. “So very idly and unreflectingly was this deed done. Of love as a spectacle Bathsheba had a fair knowledge; but of love subjectively she knew nothing”
